1. Mississippi State

The West could end up any kind of way this year... except for auburn winning it. Practically every other school has a chance to take the SEC West. I say MSU not because of their playing ability, but because they have the most legitimate shot according to who they play. They don't have to play UT, UF, or UGA. Their hardest games will be at Alabama and at Arkansas. They play LSU in Starkville. Their power ranking will be rather low since they don't play anyone difficult... non-conference foes are Oklahoma St., Memphis, and Middle Tennessee State. Look for 1-2 losses on the year if they play like they did last year... they have a legitimate shot at the SECW Championship.

Again, this could very well be Bama in this spot, but since Arkansas seems to own Bama in the last 3 years, why not this year... Bama must beat them to prove they are better. Arkansas should start out just as last year (only this year, hopefully losing to the Tide). Their hardest games come in the last 3 weeks against UT, LSU, and MSU. Non-conference shouldn't pose a problem as they play SMU, NE Louisiana, and Middle Tennessee State. Starters are back at the QB and Chris Chimichanga (whatever his name is) is back. If Anthony Lucas is back, Arkansas's game will be tops once again, even against powerhouse UT. Maybe this year, they won't give it away.

Finally, Bama made the Top 3 in the West. What more can I say - Bama has to play Tennessee, at Florida, Arkansas & MSU(who we can't seem to get past as of late), and always tough rival game Awbun in Awbun, AL. This tough schedule is why Bama is #3. Take away Florida and Bama has a legitimate chance to take #1 or #2. It will be tough to lose to UT/UF and still take the West. It should be a tough one... though we DID come close last year to beating Florida in T-town. Last time Bama went to the Swamp, 35-0 romp on the Gene Stallings's Tide team. Now if Bama can overcome UT and/or Florida, we'll have a legitimate shot at taking the West - but that means not rolling over for Miss.St. and Arkansas. Overall, the team looks to be faster and stronger than last. That's what full recruiting classes can do for a team. QB Zow returns with Alexander and some meat-eaters on the DL in Kenny Smith, Cornelius Griffin, and Kendal Morehead. OL returns All-American Chris Samuels on the OL with experience throughout. Should be a challenging road ahead for the Tide. Still look to be a year away from years past.

I give Ole Miss the 4 spot mainly because of their new head coach David Cuttcliffe. Usually, new coaches don't fare to well in their first year, but I feel pretty good about ole Dave. He's got some pretty good recruits and some decent experience. They will still struggle, but with LSU and Awbun left in the West, there's not too much more competition left to place. What will keep them ahead of LSU/AU is the fact that they only have to play UGA from the East. Non-conference games shouldn't be too difficult either. Look for a .500 season, and something to build on for the future of the Rebs.

Can you say HOT SEAT? El Di-Nerd-o is really in a bind. It goes to show you why he might have actually been at Vandy before he came to LSU. Last year, he had his "dream team" of Faulk and Sr. Herb Tyler and McFarland. Something about LSU just didn't click last year - to me it looked like there was no team chemistry... more "me" than "we". Maybe that's how the hex worked for Bama last year in coming from behind to beat the tigers once more. This year, it doesn't get any easier since Faulk and Herb Tyler have gone on... The only hope they have this year is Larry Foster who is a senior. Now if they can get a QB who can get Foster the ball, they might win a few. This year looks bleek in the SEC with them having to play Florida and Georgia in the East. A pretty easy non-conference schedule in Houston, North Texas, and San Jose State. Should be a tough year for the Tigers... Could be the last year for DiNardo unless he pulls some major miricles out of his butt. :) Oh, no one spells "Go", "Geaux" anymore. You're in America - now let's spell like it.

No real surprise here. After a 3-8 season and with the recruiting class not much to write home about, the chickens look to repeat last year's record if they can win their non-conference games - FSU, er, I mean after they chickened out, Appalachian State, Idaho, and Central Florida. Yes, we're all aware of how they weaselled their way out of playing FSU... that's why they are the chickens (shouldn't even be warchicken if you ask me - just chicken). Other news on the running game - Carter is now ineligible to play due to bad grades and Burke left the team since he didn't think he'd get to play. That leaves the leading rusher as Gabe Gross who rushed for a whopping 97 yards in 1998. AU's running game was already rock-bottom in the NCAA... this year it could be worse. Oh, and also no Robert Baker. So who do they have? Good question. Answer - underclassmen we've never heard of... that and no experience ranks in the cellar of the SEC West and untouchable for that last place finish. It'll be a very long year for the chickens...